Vic: Boxing Day discount sales begin

AAP General News (Australia)
12-26-2001
Vic: Boxing Day discount sales begin

MELBOURNE, Dec 26 AAP - Bargain hunters have hit the shops in Melbourne's central business
district for the traditional Boxing Day sales.

Retail Traders Association of Victoria executive director Tim Piper said Myer and David
Jones opened at 8am (AEDT) and many stores in the CBD and regional shopping centres would
be offering discount items.

"Today, as a single day, is the biggest day of the year for retailers who are open," he said.

"It's a great day for consumers, looking through the newspaper this morning I've never
seen so many ads for sales, many of them storewide."

Mr Piper said the Boxing Day sales were an institution for many consumers, referred
to by retailers as "value shoppers".

He said the Christmas retail period had been "reasonable, without being terrific".

"I think most retailers would say they were reasonably happy, (but) it was rather patchy,"

he said.

"Christmas Eve was a bit of a bonus, it was strong."

A spokeswoman for David Jones said crowds on Boxing Day generally peaked about 11am
(AEDT) and that crowd numbers at 8am, when the store opened, were normal.

AAP db/ra/gmw

KEYWORD: SALES VIC

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